Review: A Daring Sacrifice

What an outstanding opening line, "Time to chop off your thumbs."! It definitely caught my attention and pulled me into the medieval world. Jody Hedlund's second medieval teen novel, A Daring Sacrifice, was action packed from beginning to end.

A Daring Sacrifice follows An Uncertain Choice which came out in 2015. The books are linked together by the knights who grew up in the household of the Duke of Rivenshire, the Noblest Knight. Eack book can be read on its own which I really enjoyed. It was nice to have a little background from the previous title, but feel free to leap in and read!

Juliana is on the run from her uncle who is hunting her and wants to put an end to her just like he disposed of her father. She wants to live and protect the people who saved her and continue to guard her life. She's become a bandit to help support her people who live secretly in the forest. When she steals from Collin Goodrich, she is unmasked! Collin is curious about this female bandit that goes around wearing tattered male garments. Since leaving the last challenge from the Noblest Knight and his friends, he is up to the test of keeping track of Juliana and coming to her rescue.

Jody Hedlund has crafted together some very heartfelt ideas. It is questions of changing yourself, who you are, who you pretend to be, and what is a sacrifice. Anyone who is growing up asks these questions and since we all continue to grow, sometimes these questions are before us time and time again. The book focuses on sacrifices and some of them were stunning to read and reflect on. (I'm not giving any away, so there are no spoilers!) Every one sacrifices something, and Collin shared a revelation well, "My chest swelled with strange satisfaction." It's about putting others before you and caring for someone's needs before your own. It's beautiful to witness love and caring in action.

The story is shared between two voices - Juliana and Collin. The fonts change so it is easy to distinguish who is leading the story. The story wraps up in this novel, but Hedlund does share an epilogue that shares a new storyline. Come soon, book three! I cannot wait to read it!

Time Period: Medieval, 1390
Location: Forests of Wessex and Goodrich Castle

Reviewed from an advanced reader copy. Thank you, Zondervan and Jody Hedlund!

Title: A Daring Sacrifice
Author: Jody Hedlund
Series: Book 02, An Uncertain Choice
ISBN: 9780310749370